Advocating for H.R. 676 and S. 1804 — Improved Medicare for All

What does "Improved Medicare for All" mean for you?

Once again you are headed to the ER. Your child’s asthma has gotten much worse. You know this will be an expensive visit, but she is struggling to breathe. You couldn't afford to refill both inhalers the doctor prescribed at the last visit. They want you to take her to a lung specialist. But that office requires full payment for the first visit because you don't have insurance. At least the ER will take care of her and then offer a payment plan.

THE GOOD NEWS IS that under Improved Medicare for All, chronic disease preventive care will be covered for everyone. This is one of the ways the single-payer system is so cost effective, because preventive care is less expensive than emergency care.

Your father died of colon cancer. Your sister told you she had several polyps removed during her recent colonoscopy. She showed you the bill for the procedure. Her insurance only covered 1/4 of the total amount, but even that is more than a month’s rent for you. You don't have any insurance, so you would have to pay the full price. You have seen a little blood in the toilet. You don't know what to do.

THE GOOD NEWS IS that under Improved Medicare for All, preventive care and vaccines are covered in full. Screening for common diseases will be also be paid for, and if something is found you will be treated without additional cost.

You have worked for your present employer for 3 years. Another opportunity has come your way. You want to move on to more interesting work and a higher pay rate. It would mean relocation and better work opportunities for your spouse. But the new employer has a different insurance benefit, one that does not cover an expensive medication that you need daily.

THE GOOD NEWS IS that under Improved Medicare for All, healthcare will not be related to employment. Eligibility for healthcare will be seamless no matter where you work or live. And employers will no longer be charged with the difficult and costly requirement of providing a healthcare benefit to their employees.

Your young adult child has been diagnosed with a serious mental health problem. Your family has been through a long and frightening experience. Your physician has recommended a psychiatrist, and you are anxious to get your child started in treatment. You have searched for a doctor who is in network. However, your insurance company has denied the pre-authorization request to pay for treatment. You are notified that your policy does not cover mental health issues.

THE GOOD NEWS IS that Improved Medicare for All will have comprehensive coverage that includes mental health and all other medically necessary services.

You have a chronic medical problem that is causing you to miss work. You need to see a doctor. But you haven’t met the $3000 annual deductible and you do not have the $30 co-pay for each office visit. It is hard enough just to cover groceries, utility bills, rent, and medical expenses for your children. You are worried about losing your job and losing your insurance if you can't work.

THE GOOD NEWS IS that under Improved Medicare for All, there will be NO PREMIUMS, NO DEDUCTIBLES, NO CO-PAYS, NO EXTRA FEES! While you are working you will have a payroll deduction, like the Medicare tax you are now paying. For almost everyone this will be much less than their current insurance premium, co-pays, and deductibles.

You are pregnant for the second time and need to start pre-natal care soon. You had some difficulties in your first pregnancy, and you would like to see the obstetrician who took care of you last time. You trust her, and she is familiar with your case. But your employer has changed insurance companies, and your obstetrician is no longer “in network.” Seeing her will be very expensive.

THE GOOD NEWS IS that under Improved Medicare for All, there will be NO NETWORKS. You can see any provider you like and not be forced to change practitioners—it’s your choice. There are no insurance companies to come between you and your doctor.

A family member has a very serious health problem that has required multiple hospitalizations and extensive care at home. Your insurance has reached its lifetime cap and will no longer cover your bills. For several months you have left household bills unpaid in order to provide the care needed. Now you fear losing your house or going bankrupt.

THE GOOD NEWS IS that under Improved Medicare for All, there will be NO LIFETIME CAPS! Everyone will get all medically necessary care no matter the cost.

Obamacare eliminated lifetime caps. If it is repealed, insurance companies will again be allowed to set caps.

What is "Improved Medicare for All"?

H.R. 676 — Expanded & Improved Medicare for All Act
In the House of Representatives, Rep. Conyers' bill provides for "single-payer" healthcare, a system that is publicly funded with our taxes while the delivery of care is provided by private practitioners and hospitals.

Healthcare is paid for by progressive taxes, and 95% of all households will save money.

About H.R. 676 Funding

Health insurance companies will be out of the picture except for non-medically necessary services such as elective cosmetic surgery.

Our healthcare dollars will no longer be spent on armies of health insurance employees who deny claims, nor on armies of practitioner office staff hired to deal with a myriad of insurance companies.

Like Medicare, which spends 2–3% on overhead, almost all healthcare funds under H.R. 676 will be spent on healthcare, not on insurance company profits, stockholder distributions, campaign contributions, lobbying, and high CEO salaries.

Importantly, H.R. 676 provides income support and first priority in retraining and job placement in the new system for clerical, administrative and billing personnel in insurance companies, doctor offices and other facilities whose jobs are eliminated due to reduced administration.

➜ Tell me more about the funding.

Our money will be spent on healthcare, not health insurance.

S. 1804 — Medicare for All In the Senate, Sen. Sanders’ bill was introduced in September 2017 with 16 cosponsors. More soon. See Reference Materials for additional information, including how the two bills differ.

Who is EPSPAN?

Our vision: Single-payer healthcare. Help us pass H.R. 676 and advocate for improvements to S. 1804. EPSPAN members include healthcare providers and non-medical people in the Eastern Panhandle of WV. We have been working together since 2008. EPSPAN is:

Part of a nationwide movement building the critical mass needed to achieve single-payer